Home > Merry Meet > The Basics > Stereotypes
Stereotypes
Some of this is in Q & A format from a personal conversation, and some of it is taken from The Real Witches' Handbook by Kate West (see Recommended Reading).
Q: The whole "Blair Witch Saga," true or false? Is the whole story true or did a bunch of people just make that up?
A: It's made up, and had nothing to do with actual Paganism, Wicca, or Witchcraft.
Q: Are there such things as white or black Witches? And is a warlock is a male Witch or someone that betrays their Coven? Do Wiccans in general or you guys consider yourselves to be Witches?
A: As much as there are white and black Christians or Jews or Hindus or anything else. "White" and "black" are words people use to make themselves or others more comfortable with the term Witch. Warlock means "oathbreaker," and a male Witch is generally called a Witch. People call themselves Witches if they want to, that's a personal choice. Others may disagree however, whether someone is a "real" Witch or not. I call myself a Witch, most Wiccans I know call themselves Witches. It should also be noted for clarity’s sake that not all Witches are Wiccans, and vice versa. Some people consider themselves to be Witches and only do Magick without any religious attachment to it. Some people do the religion thing, but don’t like the word “Witch” because of the negative connotations it carries in society. Also, as Kate West puts it, "Magic itself is neither good nor bad, white nor black, it is a neutral force in the same way electricity is." Wiccans carry no sense of “good” or “evil” as many other faiths do. They will make assessments based upon their moral reaction, and make comparisons to their own beliefs, but in general the terms “White Witch” and “Black Witch” are buzz words meant to prevent offense and ignorant fear.
Q: What is scrying? Flying? Have you ever flown before?
A: Scrying is a type of mediation/divination in which you stare into something, generally a crystal ball or a mirror, but really anything will work, and you let your mind go and experience what you will. Flying generally refers to going to a Sacred site or ritual site. It doesn't mean flying like a bird or anything.
Q: Do you have a familiar? And if so can you explain to me what a familiar is?
A: A familiar is basically an animal companion, like a pet, but more special and Magickal and a stronger bond. I feel my cat is my familiar. Generally, the animal chooses you, not the other way around, if that makes sense.
Q: How about the... sacrificial offerings of virgins at Stonehenge and stuff?
A: It's not really known what was done at Stonehenge. Historians and other researchers are still trying to figure that out. There are some traditions that it seems did do sacrifices, but I never have. An interesting thing about the word "sacrifice" though, it means, "to make sacred," so really to be sacrificed was an honor and a compliment, because it was saying that you were worthy of worship just as much as the Gods are.
Q: What about the whole flying on a broomstick or how does the broomstick relate to important relevance to Wicca and can you really fly with it or is that just a mean stereotype like the rest of them?
A: Flying with a broomstick is a stereotype, but the broomstick is an important symbol. Again, from Kate West, "...this is a symbol of fertility which is literally jumped during a Handfasting to signify the leap from one "life" to the next." It also has other Magickal uses in some traditions and practices.
The next part of this page is quoted from Kate West, as previosuly mentioned. I've included her address of two of the biggest misconceptions of Witchcraft, plus some important points to remember.
"Witches are in league with the Devil and are the same as Satanists.
"Witches do not believe in, let alone worship, a devil. They do not believe in an evil being whose purpose is to balance out the good God. Witches believe in persoanl responsibility - we are each responsible for whatever we do, whether good or bad, and can blame no outside force (or devil) for those actions which we subsequently regret.
"Witchcraft is all about sex and nudity.
"Witchcraft is one of the ancient fertility religions. However,it is common to confuse fertility and sex. Fertility is not just about having babies, it is about inspiration, having new ideas. A fertile relationship is one where both partners assist one another to develop their individual potential to the full, where growth in encouraged, not restricted. This may or may not include having a family. A fertile business is one with is one with new products, markets and customers.
"It is also common to mistake the term "nature religion" for "naturist." Naturists are those who prefer to remove their clothes as much of the time as possible, as they find this totally acceptable and a more comfortable way of being. There is nothing in the Craft which demands nudity... Some witches do indeed work their rituals naked, or "skyclad" as it is termed, while others work in robes or in special but everyday clothing. This is because changing what you wear marks the stop between daily life and ritual working...
>>"Everything nasty or frightening has been, or is, attributed to Witches and Witchcraft. People have a tendency to group togehter the same age-old fears whenever they are trying to put down the beliefs of others, especially when their own beliefs can become linked to the control of the people.
>>"Quite a few, but not all of these accusations are built around a grain of truth. This is because it is easier to discredit someone if you build your propaganda around something they cannot deny. It is far harder to undo the damage, especially when it has had over 1,000 years to become part of people's beliefs.
>>"When it comes to appearance you cannot tell a Witch by the way they look - Witches are as individual as anyone else."
Copyright © 2001 GypsyWitch and Kate West. All Rights reserved
Home > Merry Meet > The Basics > Stereotypes
